When Dario Marovich took over as CEO of Eric Javits, the iconic New York luxury accessories brand, he faced the same temptation every new CEO does: change everything, all at once.
It’s an understandable impulse. New leaders want to prove themselves, fix problems fast and put their stamp on the company. But as Dario learned, speed without focus kills momentum.
“There’s this belief you have to do everything in the beginning or everything at once to make a bigger impact,” he told me. “I’d rather say just stick with one or two things in the beginning, do them well and if they work, double down.”
That discipline saved Eric Javits time, money and sanity during a transformation few legacy brands survive.
The CEO’s Focus Dilemma
Every CEO faces the same paradox: too many priorities, too little time. Dario’s insight is simple but profound: success comes from subtraction, not addition.
Most CEOs confuse activity with progress. But as I told Dario, forcing prioritization is the difference between scaling and spinning. The longer your to-do list, the less likely you are to move the needle on anything that matters.
Scaling Requires Patience
Eric Javits has been in business for over 40 years, a rare feat in fashion. Dario credits that longevity to an old-school discipline most founders forget.
“You have to accept a lot of things today’s entrepreneurs aren’t willing to accept,” he said. “It takes patience. Every gain, we put back into the business. You can’t chase every shiny object.”
Legacy and growth can coexist but only when you resist the urge to reinvent the wheel every quarter.
The Hardest Change Is Human
Transforming a luxury brand isn’t about new software or marketing. It’s about rewiring people.
“When I came in, many of the team members had been with the company for 20 years,” Dario told me. “They were scared. They didn’t understand the changes we were making. It was very difficult for them to accept it.”
He didn’t push harder, he listened deeper. Over time, those same employees became champions of transformation. His lesson: empathy moves people faster than pressure ever will.
Stepping Back to See the System
One of the biggest blind spots Dario sees in CEOs is proximity.
“They’re too close to the business,” he said. “They need to take a step back and see it as an outsider.”
It’s a challenge I coach CEOs through often. You can’t diagnose what you’re too close to. The best leaders schedule perspective into their calendars making reflection a habit, not a luxury.
The Discipline Behind Digital
Leading a digital transformation in luxury means honoring heritage while introducing new thinking. Dario’s finance background helped him strike that balance.
“I came from finance, but my passion was always marketing,” he said. “That combination brings discipline to growth.”
His advice to CEOs modernizing legacy brands: move deliberately, not desperately. Technology amplifies good strategy it doesn’t replace it.
AI in Fashion: From Distraction to Advantage
Dario is bullish on AI but clear-eyed about where it adds value.
“In content creation and analytics, AI is a game-changer,” he said. “A small brand can refresh creative monthly instead of yearly and get deep insights without hiring entire teams.”
His caution: don’t let AI become a toy. “There are fun things that don’t move the needle. You have to focus on what makes the company better.”
Teaching Teams to Embrace AI
When asked how he helps his team adapt to new tools, Dario emphasized patience and guidance.
“If someone’s unsure or afraid to use AI, we take the time to show them,” he said. “Once they see how it makes their job easier, they’re not resistant anymore.”
The key isn’t forcing adoption. It’s building confidence.
Final Takeaway
Dario Marovich’s story is a blueprint for every CEO tempted to do too much too soon. Scaling is not about the number of changes you make but about making the right ones, at the right pace.
Focus. Patience. Empathy. These aren’t soft skills, they’re survival skills for growth.
I’m Glenn Gow. I coach CEOs who want to scale through focus and discipline, not chaos. On my podcast, I uncover the strategies top leaders use to grow faster by doing less, better.
Listen to the full episode of The Scaling CEO with Dario Marovich for lessons on digital transformation, leadership and how to scale without breaking what already works.
